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Home » Recipes » Vodka Drink Recipes

Santa Clausmopolitan

Published: Dec 16, 2020 · Modified: Nov 29, 2024 by Emily · 6 Comments

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A Santa Clausmopolitan is the ultimate festive Christmas drink! It's a bright red holiday cocktail made with zesty cranberry juice, vodka, and notes of lime and orange. Rim the glass with crushed candy canes!

red clausmopolitan pouring into martini glass out of a silver shaker
Jump to:
  • What ingredients are in a Clausmopolitan cocktail?
  • Recipe Preparation
  • Customizations for Non-Alcoholic
  • Clausmopolitan Details
  • How to Make a Clausmopolitan
  • FAQ
  • More Holiday Cocktails
  • Santa Clausmopolitan

What ingredients are in a Clausmopolitan cocktail?

A Clausmopolitan is a Christmas version of the traditional Cosmopolitan, which is made with citrus-flavored vodka, triple sec, lime juice, and cranberry juice and served straight up (without ice).

This drink gained popularity during the 1990s thanks to the television show Sex and the City, where it was a favorite drink of Carrie Bradshaw. However, its origins are widely disputed, with some accounts dating back to the 1930s.

Recipe Preparation

The preparation for this holiday cocktail could not be simpler. To make it, you'll combine vodka, Cointreau/triple sec, lime juice, and cranberry juice in a shaker filled with ice.

You will then strain this into a prepared martini glass. This can be done with a cocktail shaker, but a regular glass also works.

overhead shot of christmas cosmopolitan cocktail with cranberries floating on top

Customizations for Non-Alcoholic

To make a virgin cosmopolitan, replace Cointreau with orange juice and vodka with pink lemonade. Feel free to get creative here! Regular ginger ale, sparkling water, or kombucha would all be delicious substitutes.

Clausmopolitan Details

A "Clausmopolitan" is a Cosmo cocktail with a bit of holiday cheer. To make this traditional drink more festive for the season, we've made a few changes to the original recipe.

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  • A traditional Cosmo has only a splash of cranberry juice. In this recipe we've increased that to 2 full ounces, to really give a bright red hue.
  • Typical Cosmos also do not have a rimmed glass edge. Just for fun, we've coated the rim in crushed candy canes.

How to Make a Clausmopolitan

1. Begin by carefully crushing a candy cane into small pieces. This can be done in a high-speed blender or by carefully crushing by hand under a heavy glass. Spread powder onto a small plate. Rub a lime wedge around the rim of your cocktail glass to moisten it, then dip in the powder to coat. Set aside.

2. Add ice to a cocktail shaker. Pour 1.5 oz. vodka, 2 oz. cranberry juice, lime juice, and optional 1 oz. Cointreau inside. Add lid and shake until your hands are cold about 20 seconds.

3. Strain the cocktail into a prepared glass. Zest reserved lime over top. Garnish with cranberries if using and serve immediately.

two red cosmopolitans in martini glasses next to a candy cane and some pine branches

FAQ

What is a good substitute for cranberry juice in a cosmopolitan?

For a cosmopolitan or Clausmopolitan, any kind of fruit juice can be substituted for cranberry. The closest example is pomegranate juice, which retains that bit of tartness.

Is triple sec the same as Cointreau?

Cointreau is a type of tripe sec. It tends to be higher in alcohol than other kinds, and it's full of warming spices that enhance the

I hope you enjoy this holiday cocktail recipe! If you're looking for more winter drink inspiration, try one of these next.

More Holiday Cocktails

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    Hot Toddy
  • side view of vegan white Russian cocktail with gingerbread spices on dark tray
    Gingerbread White Russian Cocktail
  • glass of cranberry gin fizz on a marble board in front of Hendricks gin
    Sparkling Gin Cranberry Cocktail
  • glass of autumn sangria with a burnt sprig of rosemary
    Easy Autumn Sangria

Please let me know if you tried this recipe by leaving a rating and review! I love hearing how things turn out.

red clausmopolitan pouring into martini glass out of a silver shaker

Santa Clausmopolitan

Emily
A Santa Clausmopolitan is the ultimate festive holiday drink! It's a bright red holiday cocktail made with zesty cranberry juice, vodka, and notes of lime and orange. Rim the glass with crushed candy canes!
5 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Course Drink
Cuisine American
Servings 1 cocktail
Calories 141 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • Candy cane for rim (optional, feel free to use sugar instead)
  • One lime wedge along with the juice and reserved zest of one half
  • 1.5 oz citrus vodka or regular vodka one shot*
  • 2 oz cranberry juice .25 cups
  • 1 oz Cointreau optional
  • Fresh cranberries for garnishing optional

Instructions
 

  • Begin by carefully crushing a candy cane into small pieces. This can be done in a high speed blender or by carefully crushing by hand under a heavy glass. Spread powder onto a small plate. Rub a lime wedge around the rim of your cocktail glass to moisten it, then dip in the powder to coat. Set aside.
  • Add ice to a cocktail shaker. Pour vodka, cranberry juice, lime juice, and optional Cointreau inside. Add lid and shake until your hands are cold, about 20 seconds.
  • Strain cocktail into prepared glass. Zest reserved lime over top. Garnish with cranberries if using and serve immediately.

Notes

While not traditional, I like using gin in place of vodka as it has a "piney" aroma that works well for the holidays. Feel free to use whatever you have on hand!
Nutrition facts calculated without Cointreau.
This recipe can be easily scaled up for a large batch.

Nutrition

Calories: 141kcalCarbohydrates: 11.9gProtein: 0.2gFat: 0.1gSodium: 4.5mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 7g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Pin the Santa Clausmopolitan Recipe for later

Santa"Clausmopolitans" are the ultimate festive Christmas drink! It's a bright red holiday cocktail made with zesty cranberry juice, vodka, and notes of lime and orange. Rim the glass with crushed candy canes!

More Christmas Drink Recipes

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    Salted Pistachio Latte
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Comments

  1. Tina says

    December 02, 2023 at 1:14 am

    5 stars
    This was such a hit at my holiday party - thank you so much for the simple recipe! I called them Mrs. Clausmopolitans haha!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      December 04, 2023 at 5:57 pm

      I am glad to hear that, Tina! Thank you for trying!

      Reply
  2. Sarah says

    December 20, 2021 at 1:34 pm

    5 stars
    Dear Emily,

    I just wanted to tell you that it’s been so fun looking through all of your drink ideas! I’m planning my Christmas Eve dinner and using Garlic-Head for many of my recipes, including the “main” drink of the night! But how do I choose??? 😃 Thank you, Garlic-Head!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      December 21, 2021 at 3:15 am

      Thank you so much for reading through them, AS! I am so glad!

      Reply
  3. Megha Nagel says

    October 22, 2021 at 2:24 am

    5 stars
    These were awesome! Thanks so much!

    Reply
    • Emily says

      October 24, 2021 at 1:52 am

      Thank you for trying them, Megha!

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Emily! I have been a plant-based food blogger since 2017. Garlic Head is a recipe website for anyone who wants to easily, affordably, and sustainably incorporate more vegetables into their diet. I am a lifelong vegetarian and 10+ year vegan.

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